Let's get a flavour of that diversity. Members include the world's largest territory – Canada – and one of the tiniest and most remote islands – Nauru in the Pacific. There's India – the largest democracy in the world – and Norfolk Island, the smallest. It includes one of the driest and most sparsely populated countries – Namibia – and one of the most liable to flooding – Bangladesh – and one with the greatest biodiversity – Guyana. It has some of the poorest in terms of their GDP – Mozambique and Tanzania – and some of the wealthiest – Australia and New Zealand. It has the oldest industrialised countries – Britain – and some of the fastest growing and industrialising – Singapore, Malaysia and Mauritius. Some are monarchies – UK and Tonga – whilst others are republics and have a President – Ghana and Trinidad. All are at various stages of development from the highly industrialise to the predominantly agricultural – from the richest countries to the poorest. Almost two-thirds of Commonwealth countries are small states.

Commonwealth countries have a very great deal in common – a shared history arising from the former British Empire, the English language, similar legal and administrative structures and education systems and common values and objectives. However, despite all that they have in common, it certainly isn't wealth in an economic sense. There are vast economic disparities and so development is an area Commonwealth countries have committed themselves to work together for positive results.

Commonwealth member governments are expected to accept and commit themselves to Commonwealth core values and principles. These were set out in the Singapore Declaration of 1971 and the Harare Declaration of 1991 and commit governments to: good governance, including a commitment to democracy and the rule of law; human rights, including the liberty of the individual and equal rights for all; protection of the environment through sustainable development; social justice and work against poverty, ignorance and disease by reducing inequalities of wealth in the world; the pursuit of world peace and support of the United Nations; international cooperation.

Governments, which are unable to live up to, these commitments, perhaps because of anti-democratic behaviour and military coups, can be – and have been – suspended from membership of the Commonwealth.

Throughout the Commonwealth, globalisation is having an enormous impact on young people. And increasingly young people know they need to be ‘world ready' so that they can meet the challenges and opportunities of this global age and environment. They have strong and constructive views about the development of their communities. They have the edge when it comes to forging new international networks for ideas and knowledge through information technology. They are concerned by global issues such as unfair global trade, environmental destruction and HIV/AIDS and keen to increase their understanding of interdependence. Increasingly they realise that the major issues affecting their lives cannot be explained or tackled within their own country alone. They know we have to think of ourselves as citizens, not only of our particular countries, but also of the world as a whole: global citizens. And to think about what kind of nations we want to be – and making another and better world possible.